Non-Scheduled Delayed Start

Emergency Closing

In the event of a blizzard or other emergency, which may threaten the safety or health of students, the decision to dismiss or cancel school will be made by the superintendent. Every effort will be made to inform parents of emergency decisions via local radio stations and calls to all families in Powerschool K-12 SWIFT Alerts. 

Inclement Weather

On rare occasions, Evanston receives an exceptionally heavy nighttime snow. If the storm continues into the morning, hazardous road conditions interfere with school buses transporting students, parents driving their students to school, students driving to school, and employees being able to get to school on time. If such conditions exist, we would declare a “Delayed Start” snow day rather than closing school for a full day.

If a “Delayed Start” day is announced, all school starting times and bus schedules would be moved back exactly two hours. For example, if your bus pickup is at 7:30 a.m., the bus will arrive at the pickup location at 9:30 a.m. Starting times for the schools on a “Delayed Start” schedule are listed below.

Delayed Start Schedule

Starting and Ending times 

Evanston and Horizon High School 10:10 a.m. – 3:10 p.m. 

Davis and Evanston Middle School 9:50 a.m. – 2:54 p.m. 

Elementary Schools 11:05 a.m. – 3:40 p.m.

UCSD #1 will use a calling system called “Code Red” and the district’s Powerschool K-12 SWIFT Alerts to notify parents. Once a decision is made by school officials about school closure or a delayed start, the system will notify all parents and guardians through the emergency phone numbers and email accounts provided to the schools at the beginning of the school year. Both systems can make all of these calls and send text messages in a matter of minutes. A delayed start gives us another way to keep students in school and manage the severe weather

Weather and Recess

The length of recess periods will be adjusted for changes in weather. On days when the temperatures and/or wind chill are so low as to pose health and safety problems (generally ten degrees or lower including wind chill factor), or when it is raining heavily, students will remain indoors. Duty teachers will supervise students outside their classroom while they participate in appropriate indoor activities. Students should dress appropriately for possible weather changes.